For updates from the National Order of the Arrow, please visit oa-bsa.org/coronavirus
Updates from the Shawnee Lodge are below.
October 16, 2020
Brotherhood Update
The lodge will have an opportunity for those who were not able to earn brotherhood due to fall reunion being cancelled. This event will happen on October 24th at the Beaumont Scout Reservation. More info can be found at shawneelodge.org/brotherhood-bash.
August 1, 2020
Lodge Officer Elections Update
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Shawnee Lodge has decided to conduct Lodge Officer elections virtually this year. Elections will be open to all youth members who are active, dues paying members as of Saturday, September 5, 2020. The ballot will be open for 1 week, from the 6th to the 11th at 5pm. Visit shawneelodge.org/officer-elections for more info.
Fall Reunion Update
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we are not able to have Fall Reunion as it traditionally happens. The Lodge has decided that in order to continue to induct new members, instead of one large Fall Reunion, we will be breaking up our Fall Reunion into at least 2 weekends, August 21-23 and 29-31 at the Beaumont Scout Reservation. Each weekend will have 2 sessions, one Friday evening to Saturday afternoon session, and one Saturday evening to Sunday afternoon session. Each session will only be open to 35 candidates. Visit shawneelodge.org/induction-weekend for more information
June 4, 2020
Elections Update
The National Order of the Arrow has allowed virtual elections through September 1st. More information can be found here. The Shawnee Lodge will allow for elections to be conducted in the months of June and July, when normal elections would happen at summer camp. Units can request an election at shawneelodge.org/2020elections.
May 30, 2020
Elections
The Greater St. Louis Area Council has put out guidelines for units meeting in person. That update can be found here. In-person elections can be held if the requirements as noted in the GSLAC Announcement have been met for units to meet in-person
May 26, 2020
Elections
Elections will be virtual and will happen during the month of June. No virtual elections will happen after July 1st. Scoutmasters in the entire lodge will receive an email detailing the process and how elections will function this year. More info can be found at shawneelodge.org/2020elections
Camping Requirement
Camping Requirements are unable to be changed for the most part, as they’re national standard, however, a Shawnee section of that which requires potential candidates to be in camp the year they are elected, is in discussion. The National Order of the Arrow has also made a temporary modification to their policy to allow virtual camping. More info on that can be found at https://oa-bsa.org/coronavirus/temporary-camping-night-policy-due-covid-19
Callout/Pre-Ordeal
Those who are elected will be mailed a letter from the Shawnee Lodge. In this letter, they will receive a congratulatory note, instructions on what to do next, and information on the next few events. Chapters and Units may also hold their own virtual callout. This will also detail the call-out weekends on August (22-23 and 29-30) that will be the same day as the pre-ordeal weekends.
Fall Reunion
Fall Reunion is still in planning and no changes have been made up to this point.
May 12, 2020
The Greater St. Louis Area Council has cancelled summer camps due to the spread of COVID-19. You can read the full update from GSLAC here. More information from the Shawnee Lodge will be out soon.
May 1, 2020
NOAC Update
The National Order of the Arrow has cancelled NOAC due to concerns of safety at the conference. Read the full update at https://oa-bsa.org/article/noac-2020-update
April 30, 2020
Virtual Camping Update
The National Order of the Arrow has come out with guidelines for virtual camping. Those guidelines can be found at https://oa-bsa.org/coronavirus/temporary-camping-night-policy-due-covid-19
April 16, 2020
One Day of Service Update
Due to the State extending their stay at home order, the One Day of Service has been postponed indefinitely. More information will be out soon.
April 1, 2020
Virtual Elections
The National Order of the Arrow is allowing lodges to conduct virtual elections. If your unit is interested in a virtual election, please contact your chapter leadership. More information can be found here.
Camping Requirement for Ordeal
The Shawnee Lodge cannot waive or relax the camping requirement for election into the OA. However, the Shawnee Lodge would like to encourage you to think outside the box to get camping nights. Things such as backyard camping will be accepted. If you have any questions, please contact your chapter or lodge leadership.
March 24, 2020
Spring Conclave Update
The Spring Conclave has been cancelled due to the spread of COVID-19. Information is below about how the Shawnee Lodge will be handling the cancellation of the Spring Conclave.
Refunds
Refunds will be offered for those that paid for the event individually. Compensation arrangements for Season Pass holders are being developed and additional information will be provided once those plans have been finalized.
Service Projects
The Service Projects that would have been done as part of the Spring Conclave will now be done, to the extent practical, as part of the One Day of Service on May 2.
Pre-Ordeal
Candidates that were called out in 2019 but still needed to do their Pre-Ordeal ceremony and sleep out can now do it on the 2020 Pre-Ordeal Make-Up date of August 22/23. Candidates that will be called out in 2020 but still need to do their Pre-Ordeal ceremony and sleep out will also be able to do it on the 2020 Pre-Ordeal Make-Up date of August 22/23.
Ordeal
Candidates that were called out in 2019 but still need to complete their service work and Ordeal Ceremony will be able to do so at the 2020 Fall Reunion.
Brotherhood
Anyone that would have completed the requirements for Brotherhood at the Spring Conclave can now do so at the 2020 Fall Reunion.
Vigil
The Vigil ceremony will be conducted on its own seperate weekend, which will be Saturday Aug 1 – Sunday Aug 2.
March 16, 2020
COVID-19 Update: All council events are cancelled through April 5th. This includes our Shawnee Lodge Spring Conclave. More information about the Vigil Ceremony and for arrowmen going for both Ordeal and Brotherhood honor will be out soon. Read the latest update from the Greater St. Louis Area Council here.